Solar Sipper

I love this bird sipper, I do bring it in at night though if it is going to get below 20 degrees to be on the safe side. The instructions said it won’t damage it if I don’t, but the birds don’t drink at night anyway so I do bring it in.

The birds figured it out in two days.

You don’t have to take it apart to refill it unless you want to and there are instructions on how to take it apart to clean it. The fingers positioning is tricky, but I managed it after two tries and didn’t spill anything putting it back together.

The Solar Sipper Mounting Bracket allows you to mount your Solar Sipper bird / pet watering station up off the ground. This could be ideal if you have birds which are stalked by cats and need a safer location from which to drink.

The mounting bracket is made of strong metal and comes with the mounting hardware. It securely holds the Solar Sipper unit at whatever height or location you wish.

Here are examples of the Garden Blue Solar Sipper both without and then with the mounting bracket, to show how it works.

I have been developing a mathematical model of the thermal performance of solar sippers under various weather conditions. I have also been monitoring the temperatures of solar sippers during winter conditions on the front steps of my house on a number of days. Comparisons of performance of the “old” and “new” sippers have been made as well as predictions as to “How cold can it get before the water in the sippers freezes?” I wish to summarize the results of these measurements and analyses.

The methodology of the study briefly was: – Develop a mathematical model of the temperature of water in a solar sipper based on principle of heat transfer, taking into account effects of solar irradiation, ambient temperatures and wind, initial water temperature, sipper material properties that affect solar transmission and heat transfer – Adjust some of the thermal parameters in the model so that the predicted temperatures match closely the measured water temperatures on a typical sunny winter day (specifically Feb 6th, 1998) – Use the model to predict the performance of both the “old” (black top and red sides [Model 10008]) and “new” (HDPE clear top and sides with black interiors [Model 10040]) sippers under other simulated weather conditions

It is important to point out that the thermal performance of the sipper in reality is a function of many variables. Specifically, on any given day the following can affect the temperature of the water: – day of the year (affects incident sun angles) – geographic location of the sipper (also affects incident sun angles) – degree of cloudiness – degree of shading from external objects (e.g. buildings, trees) – wind speed around the sippers – temperature of whatever is underneath the sipper (ground, wood, air, etc.) – initial temperature of the water – how much water is in the sipper (I would recommend filling to the lip of the lid), and, of course – ambient temperature (which typically varies over the day)

Obviously, if I systematically varied all of the above parameters to find the combinations predicted to result in no freezing of water, the number of such combinations would be very large and difficult to apply for a customer. Even though I have simplified the simulation to keep the results straightforward, it is important to keep in mind the limitations of the results described below.

In the simulations, I kept all weather conditions as on the day I measured the actual sipper water temperature (i.e. a clear February 6th near Boston with no measurable wind near the sippers) and varied only the ambient temperature until the simulated water temperature reached 32 F. The simulated initial water temperature was 63 F, but the results were independent of the initial water temperature. For the “old” sipper (Model 10008) with a constant simulated ambient temperature of 20F, no freezing took place during daylight hours. For the “new” HDPE sipper (Model 10040), the constant ambient temperature could go down to 14 F.

Constant ambient temperatures during the daylight hours are of course very rare and therefore not too realistic. Consequently, I searched a weather database for some recorded hourly weather data to use with the simulation model. The database is called WYEC2, and is available from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, and is made up of actual historical weather records with different months from different years pieced together to represent a typical meteorological year. I found the coldest day of the year for Boston (a relatively clear January 12th) and entered the ambient temperatures for the day and adjusted the model clear sky solar irradiation to match the daily total irradiation on the horizontal in the database.

The average ambient temperature during the daylight hours varied from 7 F to 18 F and averaged 13 F. The new HDPE solar sipper (Model 10040) water did not freeze during daylight hours.

A delightful summer and winter outdoor watering device for wild birds, pets, and wildlife. A waterer incorporating wind protection, solar heating and insulation. Unique and safe non electric environmentally responsible outdoor water station for use at the same time as you prepare you daily indoor pet water and food dishes.

Works all day better than open bowl to give animals the same loving daily fresh water your indoor pets receive. In winter sunlight passive solar top provides radiant sun heat to keep water ice free to 15 degrees F. In summer shade keeps water cooler and cleaner. Easy to clean. Top protects water from bacteria.

Portable with no wires to chew.

* Top covers water to keep it clean from droppings
* Build in air insulation keeps water warm in winter and cool in summer
* insulation keeps water cool in summer, warm in winter
* Special design top allows passive solar heating while animals can access water

A sip of fresh water is better than none at all, so wet their whistles.®

Solar Sippers wildlife and bird waterers are carried in a large variety of vendors both on the internet and in stores. Check out current stock and current prices at our online store and others on Amazon, Plow and Hearth, Duncraft, WalMart, Sears, Unbeatable Sales, Goldcrest, A.M. Leonard and many others. At these places you may buy with your credit card or Paypal.

We sell here online ONLY the parts for our Solar Sipper units. We do not sell with credit cards here. You may send your check directly to Happy Bird Corporation, PO Box 86, Weston, MA 02493 with a copy of the order form for parts properly filled out.

All Season Deluxe Wild Bird Watering Station Model (10008)
The Model 10008 Deluxe Solar Sipper is the best product for clean, fresh drinking water for wild birds on the market today. This water station does it all. Unlike a birdbath, it covers the water to keep it clean. It insulates to keep water cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. It heats with a unique solar design against winter ice to 20 degrees F.

All Season Maxpower Wild Bird Watering Station (10007)
Maximum black surface for solar heating – The Model 10007 Maxpower Solar Sipper is the best product for clean, fresh drinking water for wild birds on the market today. This water station does it all. Unlike a birdbath, it covers the water to keep it clean. It insulates to keep water cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. It heats with a unique solar design against winter ice to 20 degrees F.

All Season Super Solar Sipper Wild Bird Watering Station (10040)
The Model 10040 Super Solar Sipper solar heated portable fresh drinking water station for wild birds is designed with birds in mind to go where they go at any time of year. Tough plastic cover keeps water clean for a day’s drinking while the patented top design keeps enough solar heat to keep water from freezing to 15 degrees F. all day in winter sun, depending on sun and wind conditions.

All Season Deluxe Pet Sipper – Pet Watering Station (10012)
The Model 10012 Pet Sipper is a safe and reliable Solar Sipper animal watering stations, engineered for providing fresh drinking water. The water surface is covered to keep water clean while the unit is insulated for year-round use. Winter use is possible due to the patented solar top. In winter, simply fill with warm water, put out in the winter sun and the unit will remain unfrozen all day to 20 deg. F.

All Season Standard Commercial – Pet Watering Station (10011)
The Model 10011 Pet Sipper is a safe and reliable Solar Sipper animal watering stations, engineered for providing fresh drinking water. The water surface is covered to keep water clean while the unit is insulated for year-round use. Winter use is possible due to the patented solar top. In winter, simply fill with warm water, put out in the winter sun and the unit will remain unfrozen all day to 20 deg.

A unique safe environmentally responsible outdoor water station for use with your backyard pets, birds and wildlife at the same time as you prepare you daily indoor pet water and food dishes.

Works all day better than open bowl to give animals the same loving daily fresh water your indoor pets receive. In winter sunlight passive solar top provides radiant sun heat to keep water ice free to 20 degrees F.

Easy to clean.

Top protects water from bacteria. Portable and safe with no electric wires to chew.

Another innovative product from Happy Bird Corporation home of Thomas Hollyday Chesapeake fiction, nature books and environmental safe water products all listed on Amazon.com.

This all season wild bird Garden Blue Solar Sipper features a blue footed base and translucent top. The covered top keeps the water clean.

The solar sipper is wholly safe – there are no electrical wires. The solar top uses the power of the sun to keep water clear of ice down to 20 degrees F. Ambient air space keeps water cool in summer, warm in winter.

A delightful summer and winter outdoor watering device for wild birds, pets, and wildlife. A waterer incorporating wind protection, solar heating and insulation. Unique and safe non electric environmentally responsible outdoor water station for use at the same time as you prepare you daily indoor pet water and food dishes.

Works all day better than open bowl to give animals the same loving daily fresh water your indoor pets receive.

In winter sunlight passive solar top provides radiant sun heat to keep water ice free to 20 degrees F (15 degrees F on Super Solar Sipper). In summer shade keeps water cooler and cleaner. Easy to clean. Top protects water from bacteria.

Portable with no wires to chew. Check out Google for recent “solar sipper tests 21415” for performance video in winter storms. Another innovative product from Happy Bird Corporation home of Thomas Hollyday Chesapeake fiction, nature books and environmental safe water products. All listed on Amazon.com and Amazon Kindle.

The Solar Sipper Model 1007 is the best product for clean, fresh drinking water for wild birds on the market today. Unlike a birdbath, it covers the water to keep it clean.

The patented design insulates to keep water cooler in the summer and warmer in winter. It heats with a unique solar design against winter ice.

In winter, simply fill with warm water, place in winter sun and the Solar Sipper will remain unfrozen all day to 20 degrees F.

A natural product that combines wind protection, solar heating and insulation. A unique safe environmentally responsible outdoor water station for use with your backyard pets, birds and wildlife at the same time as you prepare you daily indoor pet water and food dishes. Works all day better than open bowl to give animals the same loving daily fresh water your indoor pets receive. In winter sunlight passive solar top provides radiant sun heat to keep water ice free to 20 degrees F. Easy to clean. Top protects water from bacteria. Portable and safe with no electric wires to chew. Check out Google for recent “solar sipper tests 21415” for performance video in winter storms. Another innovative product from Happy Bird Corporation home of Thomas Hollyday Chesapeake fiction, nature books and environmental safe water products all listed on Amazon.com

* passive solar top attracts sun heat to keep water ice free to 20 degrees F
* top covers water to help keep it free of bacteria
* insulation keeps water cool in summer, warm in winter